INFORMATION ABOUT PATERNITY TESTING

Paternity testing is a personal matter and we make every effort to maintain the
confidential nature of the testing. The wait for paternity test results may be an anxious
time. We hope the following information will provide answers to your questions and help
alleviate some of your concerns. If you have additional questions that are not addressed
here, please call us at CompGene.
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Legal Considerations What is the process of a paternity test?
All participating adults will be required to fill out paperwork consenting to the paternity
test. DNA samples are taken from the mother, the child(ren) and the alleged father(s).
DNA can be obtained from any body tissue but typically blood or brushings from inside
the mouth are used. These samples are obtained and handled following "chain of
custody" procedures. These are steps to ensure that a particular DNA sample is from a
certain individual. A photograph or fingerprint is taken at the time of blood drawing or
mouth brushing and a photocopy is made of a person's driver's license or social security
card. Typically, a photograph is taken of the mother and her child and a second
photograph is taken of the alleged father. The photographs are signed and dated by the
photographed individuals.
How Long Will It Take to Get My Results?
CompGene usually provides reports within 7-10 days. Some testing situations may take
a little longer, such as when autopsy specimens or archival pathology samples from
deceased individuals are used or tissue culture is required.
How much does paternity testing cost?
The standard fee is $325 (mother,child and alleged father). Mother deficient cases are charged at the standard trio rate. A
rush completion of paternity testing (3 working days or less) is available but carries a
$300 additional fee paid in advance.
Must My Account Be Paid in Full To Receive Results?
A $150 non-refundable deposit (included in the $325 fee) is required upon receipt of the
first sample before testing will begin. Results will be released promptly upon full
payment. Payment in the form of cash, check, money order, debit card or credit card.
Paying in full prior to test completion will expedite the release of test results.
How old must the child be for paternity testing?
Unlike the older paternity testing methods which require infants to be at least six months
old, DNA based paternity testing can be accurately performed at any age. It can even be
done before birth on amniotic fluid cells or chorionic villi. Cord blood obtained at delivery
can also be used.
Do the mother and the alleged father(s) have to come in
together for the testing?
Individuals being tested do not have to come in at the same time to have DNA
samples obtained for paternity testing. DNA can be safely stored for many months until
analyzed. In our experience, we have found that people often feel more trusting of
paternity test results if they have witnessed DNA samples being obtained from each
other.
Do mouth brushings yield as accurate a result as a blood sample?
The results from mouth brushings are just as accurate as results from blood. However, if
the mouth brushing is not performed vigorously, the amount of DNA obtained may be
insufficient and a rare test failure may occur. In this situation, a repeat sample is
obtained and the test is repeated at no additional charge.
Is the "chain of custody" procedure necessary?
If "chain of custody" procedure is followed the paternity testing results will withstand
most conceivable legal challenges. The "chain of custody" procedure does not have to
be followed, but if it is not, the highly accurate paternity test results may not stand up in
a court challenge.
What if one individual(s) to be tested lives in another city or state?
CompGene will priority ship mouth brushing DNA collection kits to individuals who do not
live locally. A shipping fee is added to the initial deposit for testing.
How is DNA analysed for a paternity test?

All DNA samples will be analyzed with a widely used patented procedure called the
polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR is a very sensitive and accurate method to
analyze DNA. The paternity test will reveal the true relationship of the alleged father to
the child for the following reason: a child receives half of his (her) DNA from his (her)
biological mother and half from his (her) biological father. Therefore, the rationale behind
paternity testing is to determine whether or not a child has DNA in common with his
(her) alleged father. A child who has DNA that is not found in his (her) biological mother
and is not found in his (her) alleged father cannot be the child of that man. Unless
otherwise indicated, maternity is always assumed to be as stated.

What results will I get from a paternity test?
A paternity test report will state the technical name for each DNA area that has been
tested. Paternity testing at CompGene typically evaluates at least 9 different areas in the
DNA. You will receive one of two possible results of your paternity test. The report will
either be a 1) negative paternity result (exclusion) which means the alleged father is not
the biological father or a 2) positive paternity result (inclusion) which means the alleged
father has greater than a 99.99% chance of being the biological father. The reasons for
either of these results are explained below.
What does a negative paternity result (exclusion) mean?
Non-paternity occurs when a child is found to have DNA that is not in his (her) alleged
father and is not found in his (her) mother. If this occurs, the alleged father CANNOT be
the biological father of the child. This result proves non-paternity without a doubt. There
are two important points to understand about a report of non-paternity.
First, when we provide a report of non-paternity it will show at least 3 areas of DNA
that do not match between the child and the alleged father. The reason for requiring at
least 3 non-matching DNA areas is that it is possible that a child might have a change in
the DNA (a mutation) he (she) inherited from his (her) biological father. This would
make it appear that the child is unrelated to his (her) true father. By requiring at least 3
non-matching DNA areas, the chance of a false non-paternity report due to a naturally
occurring mutation is virtually impossible, barring laboratory error.
Second, on a report of non-paternity, some DNA areas tested will match between the
child and the alleged father. This occurs because all people share some common DNA
areas. However, when several DNA areas are compared, non-related individuals will
always have some areas that do not match. As explained above, the presence of 3 or
more non-matching areas on the paternity test report is proof of non-paternity.
What does a positive paternity result (inclusion) mean?
At each DNA area are a number of different possible DNA patterns (called alleles).
Different people have different alleles. The report will state for each DNA area tested
which allele the alleged father and the child share and how common that allele is in the
alleged father's ethnic group. When every DNA area tested shows a shared allele
between the alleged father and the child, there is a very high chance that the alleged
father is the biological father. It is important to appreciate that although a negative
paternity result (exclusion) provides absolute exclusion of an alleged father being the
biological father, a positive paternity result (inclusion) only provides a high statistical
probability that the alleged father is indeed the biological father. All testing at CompGene
will provide (except in rare circumstances) a probability of paternity of at least greater
than 99.99%. This figure yields a paternity index of > 10,000. This means that there is
less than a 1 in 10,000 chance that the alleged father, deemed the biological father by
paternity testing, is actually not the biological father. Most courts require a 99% or higher
probability of paternity (a paternity index of > 100).
How Will I Be Notified of My Results?
Test results can be picked up in person or mailed to all tested adults and any
representative they have requested on their identification forms. Results can be faxed to
a designated medical or legal representative if requested by an authorized individual. No
results will ever be given over the phone.
May I Call For Information On My Test?
Yes. However, the only information we will be able to provide is whether or not your
testing has been initiated and or has been completed. As a matter of policy, CompGene
representatives who answer the telephone do not have any information about the results
of paternity testing. This policy prevents them from inadvertently revealing any
confidential information. Only the laboratory personnel actually performing the paternity
test know the results and will never give results of a paternity test over the telephone.
Paternity testing takes time, and we can only determine the results of the test after
completion of all aspects of the testing. We will notify you when the test is complete.
Unless you hear from us, assume your test is proceeding properly. If you call, please be
ready to provide the same identification information that you presented at the time of
blood sample collection.
Example Cases The two cases illustrated below show DNA data that either support the
statement that the alleged father is not the biological father (exclusion - panel A) or
support the statement that the alleged father is the biological father (inclusion - panel B).
In case A, an autoradiograph shows a DNA area from the mother, the child and the
alleged father, respectively. In the middle lane, the upper DNA area seen in the child is
not found either in the mother or in the alleged father. It must have come from another
man, the biological father. These results are consistent with exclusion. The alleged
father is not the biological father.

EXCLUSION

Mother Child Father?

In case B, an autoradiograph shows a DNA area from the mother, the child and the
alleged father, respectively. In the middle lane, the child's upper DNA area comes from
the mother while the child's lower DNA area comes from the alleged father. These
results are consistent with inclusion.

INCLUSION

Mother Child Father?

Although these examples show only one DNA area, typically a paternity test evaluates at
least nine different DNA areas. Multiple DNA areas are studied to exclude the possibility
of false positive or false negative results.
Legal Considerations
No paternity testing is performed at CompGene unless all participating adults are aware
that they are being tested. All participating adults will be required to fill out paperwork
consenting to the paternity test. In case your paternity test results are needed for a legal
proceeding, CompGene will always have your file available and will release results only
with your written consent. A qualified molecular geneticist is available on an hourly basis
to testify as an expert witness if your legal proceedings require it.